Easter 2025 I’m coming to get you!

Hettyhound

Hello!  Well I’ve got tomorrow morning to work and then I’ll be calling it a year.  Due back on 5th January due to school training day but I’m fearful he won’t get back (he’s primary school and we are still T2 but surrounded by 3 so I’m expecting we will get moved up).  On Monday morning I was getting flashbacks to lockdown and trying to work with him around.  Not surprisingly he’s received a naughty list warning card from Santa today, hand delivered by an elf last night.  Seems to be working so far 🤣.  Just made my final op of the year so this year I’ve paid £5400 extra which I am so pleased ( and proud) about.  Mortgage is under 48.5k so progress is good.  In 2021 I would like to top up emergency pot a little, keep up with my op plan to hit the max allowance but also to buy some bits for the house.  I’ve repainted some furniture this month with left over paint just to tidy things up.  I really need a new sewing machine and I want to make some blinds and loose covers/cushions and also some raised beds for the veggie patch.  I haven’t used my credit card in ages so it could do with a spend to stop them cancelling it; just as long as I pay it off in one go I’m happy.  Need to get last few bits of fruit, bread, milk in the local town this afternoon and then I’m making cranberry and pecan chocolate brownies at some point today.  All presents are wrapped so you never know I might get some time to myself this evening.  It’s such a rarity I won’t know what to do! 🤷‍♀️

South_coast

I am LOVING the idea of the naughty list warning card - genius!!!

Well done on your progress this year, and I hope 2021 goes well for you x

becky170

That's fantastic that you've overpayed that much this year. Definitely something to be proud of I hope you and your son have a lovely Christmas. 

savingholmes

Love the elf warning. Fabulous.

Hettyhound

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas.  My son was happy with Santa who relented and did pay a visit; although maybe he shouldn’t have given the backchat I’m currently getting.  My 7 year old appears to be a tweenager already. I’ve reassessed my current bills and my various “pots” and worked out my allocations to them all.  I will reassess in March as I’m due to see a drop of £150 in tax credits from the beginning of April.  I’m attacking the grocery amount as that has slipped in the last few months.  I’m using up all those half empty packets of stuff that you only occasionally need and then get forgotten at the back of the cupboard.  I’ve told my son we are not going to the supermarket until next year and when we nip to the shop tomorrow it is for eggs, milk and a pizza for New Year’s Eve so I don’t have to cook.   Made some bread yesterday but the rise wasn’t great.  My yeast is still in date but I think it’s been open too long.  I have a new packet so will try that to see if it’s better.  I also made some scones with some best before September 2020 plain flour I was given during lockdown.  I added a couple of teaspoons of baking powder and that did the trick.  I also made some lentil and mushroom bolognese for the freezer with a pack of ready to eat lentils and some discount mushrooms.  This year I’m planning on topping up my savings account but with the understanding that it can be spent on things we need for the house.  There is quite an amount in the “days out” pot so I’m going to use that for some raised beds in the garden as I suspect there will be more days in than out still.  We can be in the garden and hopefully grow some produce.  As my Christmas gift to myself I’ve subscribed to Gardeners world magazine which I had a few years ago and read cover to cover each month.  My great nephew has finally arrived, 20 days overdue (don’t ask 😕).  Born on Boxing Day and he still doesn’t have a name, it’s not as if his arrival wasn’t expected!  Anyway thanks for reading the ramblings, I’m off to find food for lunch if there’s any left in the cupboard and fridge.

savingholmes

Congrats on the great nephew. Hope everything else gets back on track for you soon. Happy New Year!

Jessy103

Happy New Year Hetty! ❤

Hettyhound

Thank you Jessy!  Today has been a good day.  I had a new sewing machine delivered at 8am so now I'm back in action after being without for so long.  Yesterday I was told about the too good to go app and the magic bags for £3.09 at Morrison’s so last night I managed to get one for collection today (only 4 available and sold in 5 mins).  It’s got loads of things I would normally buy and the freezer is now full with snacks for my son (crumpets, hot cross buns pitta, mince pies).  Tomorrow it looks like we will be having parsnips and swede with the roasted butternut squash bake I was planning as those were in the bag too.  I’ve also found some very reasonable raised beds kits for the veg patch.  I’m on holiday week commencing 18th January so I’ll get them for then.  My son’s school will be going back on 5th jan as planned and I’m  sooooooo happy although he isn’t.  Happy new year to everyone and hoping 2021 is peaceful, safe, healthy and an little bit normal.

savingholmes

Glad you bagged yourself some bargains. It all helps

slm6002

Can i also mention the app olio.  It is an app that shares food that is close to use by dates that has been saved and you can collect or free.  Have a look